How Natural Does Mouth Widening Surgery Looks Afterwards?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have a few questions about mouth widening surgery:

1) How wide can you make a mouth, would it be possible to increase with around 6mm on each side? 

2) How natural would it look after the surgery, would it be lop sided or titled by any chance or would it look like a regular mouth. 

Thank you

A: In answer to your mouth widening questions:

1) The average mouth widening distance increase done surgically is usually 5 to 7mms per side.

2) The postoperative concerns are not whether it will look natural or have asymmetry but how well do the scars do and whether a scar touchup may eventually be needed. In my experience about 50% of patients who have the surgery need  scar revision touchup on at least one side.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana